Vending machine



March 15, 1932. H. B. WOODS VENDING MACHINE .4 sheets-sheet Filed Dec.27, 1927 March 15, 1932. H. B. WOODS v VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec 27.1927 4 ShetS-ShGGb 2 i? gluoen to'a flare/(l B. Waark' yaw? March 15,1932. HE. WOODS VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1927 4 sheets-snetavwemto v Elf 000s attorney/ March 15, 1932. H. B. WOODS VENDING MACHINEFiled Dec. 27 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 1,849,86Q

UNETED I minors s. wo'ons, mom, Y'oiik, essence, in: were A gie-admirersnnivinreron seamen immerses, A ccaroannon or YORK,

I vi'mnine Mecfimn Application filed December 27; 1927. Serial No.242,579.

This invention relates to vending machines crating device while themachine is ionized and particularly to the type of machine oraccidentally jammed. j I j e j y; adapted to contain a number of similarar- With these and other objects in View, the

ticles and to deliver one such article at a invention consists ot the;novel cqinbinanons time upon the operation of the machine 1501- andarrangements ofdevices, a representative 55 lowing the insertion of aproper and acembodiment of which is shown in the accent ceptable coi Ipanyingdrawings, and which will be here- One object of the invention isto provide inaftcr described in detail. a machine of unusual capacity.Hitherto it Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine 611'- has beenpossible to load such a machine only closed in its case.

with a very limited number of the articlesto .Fig. 1A is atr'ansvers'esectional detail be vended unless the casing of the machine showing. thecasing supporting means; was made of excessive" height. By the pres-Fig. 2 is affront elevation of the machine, ent invention it is possibleto load a machine the front wall of the casing being removed. containedin a comparatively small and low Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of theinechacasing with an unusually large number ofnisnr, the casing beingremoved; the articles to be vended. Fig. is a section on the line H ofFig.2. Aiurther object of the invention is to'pro- Fig. 5- is a transvrse c'OfiOIi Substantially vide a novel and effective means foreffecting. on t line of g- 20 the release of the-machine for operationby Fig. 6 is an elevation in section sub'stanan accepted coin. V Vtially onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

A further object oi the invention is to pro- Fig. 7 is an elevation ofthe main opervide means for preventing the acceptance of atillg Shaftand p fiissciatd wi h a second coin, one coin being inposition to Fig. 8is a section on line ,8-8 of Fig. 7 2 operate the machine, until themachine has Fig.9 is a-detail of a pair of delivery new been operated.anism operating cams. A furtherobject ofthe invention is to pro- Fig- 1i a perspective of the delivery vide a novel means for eiiecting thereturn liicclia-nism andits operating cams,somep'a'rts of superfluous orspurious coins or slugs upon lng mit-ted for the sake of clearne'ss. 30an initial movement of the mechanism; and Fig. 11 is a transversesection near the top without a complete operation of the machine. of themachine. v

A further ob ect of the invention is to pro- 7 The mechanismis enclosedin a casing; coinvide an articleej'ecting device whichis posig prisingfront, side, and end plates and is' tively actuated both to eject anarticle and n d on 8; back P 5 1 w ich the :2 t return t normalposition. housing is attached in the followingmanner 35 A further objectof the invention is to pro- Neill the P Of b 033mg P itsv vide aplurality of stacks of similar articles, e ur d a yoke comprising atransverse bar each stack havingan ejector device asso- 1 s t t b c n owa y exciated therewith and means for operating; the d g M1115 having ic Slot l ejector devices inrotation. their forward ends. as shown inFig. IA.

A further object of the invention is to pro- The ide Walls of thehousingare pr vided vide' a novel means for effecting the return With apair of inwardly projecting studs 19. of inserted coins after the stockof articles ad p iI S t w h I in the machine has been substantiallyexbOttOm Of the back plate 151$ secured a Stiirup hausted. 20 (Figs. 5and 6 which comprises a key A further object of the invention is to'prohole slot 211 adapted to receive the end of .avide an operating devicefor a; vending ma spindle 22 and a lug 21which projects laterchine whichincludes a connection adapted ally therefrom. Spindle 22 is supported into yield without injury to t-e mechanism the'mechanism-framework to bepresently de- 50' when excessive force is applied to the op scribed,extends forwardly to. a point adjaone at a time,

bolt 22.

cent the front wall of thecasing, and at its forward end carriesthelocking plate 2211. Plate 221 is provided with the locking projection222 adapted in one position of the plate to engage beneath end of alocking piece 223, secured to the inside of the front wall ofthe casing.Plate 221 is urged to unlocking position by spring 224, which tends todraw it into contact with the stop pin 225. 7 Its movement to lockingposition is effected thru the engagement of a tooth 226 thereon by anose 227 on the bolt of a lock 23, secured to the casing. Thus, thecasing being in place, a key is inserted in this lock and turned tobring the nose 227 to the position shown in Fig. 1, plate 221 is rotatedto bring nose 222 under the end'of locking piece 223 and the casing issecurely locked in place.

Alocatin'g stud'228 on the'inside of the front casing plate isreceivedin an opening 229 in the mechanism frame, thus properly aligning thecasing and parts carried thereby with the corresponding parts of themechanism.

The mechanism for containing articles to be vended and for deliveringsuch articles, upon the insertion of a proper 00111, is supported on aunitary frame work comprising a base casting 24 (Fig. 2) having securedthereto a back plate 240 integral with a right side plate 241. Amechanism supporting plate 242, (Fig. 3) lying parallel to the backplate 240 and spaced lugs 25, partly overlaps and extends below the backplate 240. The upper end of plate 240 is offset rearwardly, as shown at243, (Figs. 2v and 4) and the offset portion comprises slots adapted toreceive headed studs 244 secured to the back plate 15. The lower end ofplate 240 rests against the stirrup and is held in place by the lug 21of locking The article supporting means comprises a plurality ofcolumnar bins or holders 26 each of a cross sectional area substantiallythe same as the cross sectional area of the articles to be vended. Eachbin thus receives a single column of such articles. Each of the stacksof articles is supported on a shelf which is constructed as follows:

A shelf base 28 is provided with a downwardly turned end 29 by which itis secured to the back plate 240. At one edge, the base is turned upwardand backwardly to form the support or shelf proper 30 upon which thearticles rest. Each shelf 30 comprises slots 31 (Figs. 5 and 6) adaptedto receive the ejector stirrups 32. The right side wall (Fig. 2) of eachof the bins 26 is somewhat shorter than the left side wall to permit ofthe bottom article in the stack. The left-side ,which the ejector theejection beneath the right side wall of walls each comprise slots 33(Fig. 5) thru stirrups 32 are reciprocated. Each of the bins may be 1provided with a weight device 34 resting on top of the ,lies adjacent tothe back therefrom by means of stack of articles for the purpose ofinsuring that articles do not become lodged in the bins out of the pathof movement of the supports 31.

Means may be provided for locking the machine or returning all coinsinserted therein when the machine is empty, the operation of thismechanism being initiated by the position of one or more of followers34. A gravity operating device has been shown associated with eachfollower, inorder to lock the machine when any of the bins becomesempty. The three devices are identical, each comprises a yoke pivoted ona rod 35 which extends transversely between the upstanding walls of thefollower 34. The yoke comprises a downwardly extending linger'36 and anupwardly extending arm 37 connected by a transverse bar 38. 'TllGflI'lll37 and the bar 38 being above and to the left (Fig.- 6) or the pivot 35,the end of arm 37 normally rests I against the back of the loin 26 wheresaid back supporting plate 240. When the last article in the bin isremoved the finger 3'? comes into alignment with aligned slots 39 thruthe wall of the bin 26 and the back plate 240, drops thru said slots andprojecting from the back of the plate 240, acts to effect the return ofsubsequently inserted coins in a manner which will presently bedescribed.

Coins are inserted in the machine thru a slot 40 in an es'cutcheon plate41, mounted on the front of the casing. In alignment with the slot 40 isa coin testing device comprising a fixed wall 42 having hinged thereto aswinging wall 421. W'hen'wall 421 is swung aside, coins lodged in thetesting device or thereafter introduced into the machine drop into theopen receptacle for delivered articles, from which they may berecovered. The coin testing device will not be described in detail sinceit forms no part of the present invention. The wall 421 being in normalposition, the accepted coins coin tester drop into a vertical chute 43sew cured to the rear of the back support plate 240. At the bottom ofthis chute the coin comes to rest with its lower edge in contact with anarm 44 of a three arm lever pivoted to the plate 240 at 45. Both wallsof the coin chute comprise vertical slots opposite the position occupiedby the coin in the lower end of the chute. Thru the lefthand slot (Fig.3) projects the lower end of a light lever 46, pivoted on a horizontalpivot at 47. This lever comprises an inturned upper end 48 adapted to beprojected thru a slot near the upper end of the coin chute 43 and whenin this position to engage inserted coins and retain them in the cointester,'from which they are dislodged by the opening'of the tester on asubsequent operation of the machine. Thus, when there is' a coin inthebottom of the chute 43 in position to operate the mapassing thru theplate 242 and by a chine-no other coinwill be accepted, an attempt ismade to insert another the machine the coin will be returned.

Thru the slot in the right-hand side of, the lower end of coin chute 43projects a nose 49 of a sliding and rocking lock; member 50. Themovement of this member is guided by a slot 51 which receives a stud 52projecting rearwardly from the mechanism supporting slottedstud or guideplate 53 also secured to the plate 242... Pivotedto the lock controllingmember at 54 is-a-loclr ing plate 55 having therein a laterallyprojecting stud 56 which overlies a hormoi tfllly extending portion ofthe member 50, and a similar stud 57 which is engaged by the nose of aspring connecting member 58 urged nto contact with 'saidpin by spring59. Member 58 thus serves to apply the tension of spring 59 to the stud57 and the lock controlling member 50. A short stud 60 fixed to theplate 242 limits the movement of the locking plate 55 in a manner whichwill presently ap ear.

"late 55 comprises a locking corner or shoulder 61 adapted to be engagedby radial locking projection 62 on a disk 63 fixed to the operatingshaft 64. The disk 63. also carries three laterally projecting studs 65adapted to engage the nose 66 of the lock controlling member 50 and liftsaid member and with it the plate 55, rocking it about the stud 52. Thelever 451 comprises a horizontally extending arm 67 which engages theperiphery of a three lobed cam 68, fixed tothe operating shaft 64adjacent to the disk 63. Lever 451 also comprises an upwardly extendingpart terminating in the laterally projecting finger 681 adapted toengage a pin 69 associated with the swinging side 421 of the coin chute;and an arm 70 terminating in a bifurcation adapted to receive a pin 71which projects from a pendant 7 2 pivoted to the plate 240. Pendant 7 2comllrises three extending fingers 73 whi h normally stand opposite theslots 39 thru which the fingers 37 on the followers 34 are projectedwhen the bins are empty as hereinbefore explained. It will be seen thatat each operation of the ma.- chine, the lever 451 being rocked by theengagement of cam 68 with arm 67, the fingers 7 3 are moved out ofalignment with the slots 39 and at the same time the hinged side of thecoin chute is lifted and remains elevated as long as fingers 73 aredisplaced. If the operation empties one of the bins 26 permitting afinger 37 to drop thru one of the slots 39, the return movement of thependant 7 2 is blocked and the coin chute is held open thus effectingthe return of any coins subsequently placed in the machine.

The invention contemplates the delivery of an article from each of thethree stacks in turn, and to this end the delivery mechanism may beconstructed as follows:

and 0.0. n

. The ejector stirrup's 32 are carried by plates, 321,322, and 323respectively (Fig. 5) which extend horizontally from the upper ends oflever-s 7'4, 76, and 78, pivoted respectively on the rods 75., 77, and79. For greater rigidity, the lower end of each lever is formed as, ayoke, thereby. providing spaced bearing points .10). They yoke. of lever74 is widened i to. a plate 741 which forms one side of the operatingmechanism housing.

For positively controlling the article de-. livery levers 74,v 7'6, and78, two pairs of complemental cams, are mounted on the operating shaft64. These pairs of cams are similar, one pair serving to control thedelivery levers 74 and 76 and the other to control the lever 78. Apairof these cams is shown def tached from the mechanism in Fig. 9., andthey are shown in their relation to each other, as well as to the armsoperated thereby in Figs. 7, 8, and 10. Suitable cam followers projectfrom the threedelivery levers to engage their cams, thus the arm 74 isprovided with a, stud 80 which engages the periphery of the cam 81, andwith a second stud 82 which engages the periphery of a cam 83 which is'complemental to the cam 81. Thus, the delivery lever is positivelyactuated in both directions. Similarly, lever 76 is provided with thecam followers 84- and 85 which en.- gage respectively the cam 81 and itscomplemental cam 83, while the lever 78 has the followers 86 and 87which engage respectively a second pair of complemental cams 88 and 89.

The arrangement of the cams and cam followers and their relation to eachother is such that each of the delivery levers is actuated in turn whilethe main operating shaft 64 is turned thru one complete revolution, theope-ration of each lever being effected dur ing one-third of arevolution. 7 It will be seen that about two-thirds of the periphery ofeach cam is a dwell-portion, the active surfaces being limited to aboutone-third of a circumference. In Figs, 8 and 9,, the mechanism is sopositioned that be actuated during the rotation of the operating shaftthru the next third of a revolution, said shaft rotating clockwise. Thelever 74 is in normal position, the delivery stirrup 32 standingadjacent to the article conthe lever 74 will taining bin as shown inFig.5;- The lever V 76, controlled by cam followers 84 and 8.5 wasactuated in the preceding movement of the shaft, and said cam followersstand just behind the active cam surfaces. As the shaft 64 and with itcams 81 and 83 are rotated clockwise from the Fig. 9 position, thefollower 82 will be engaged by the ext-ending part Of cam 83, rockingthe'lever 74 about its pivot 75 to eject the bottom article in thestack. This movement is permitted by the recess in the periphery of cam81 which receives the follower 80: while the. lever is.

rocked thru the engagement of cam '83 with follower 82. In the continuedmovement of the cams, follower 82 passes the point of cam 83 permittingcam 81 to restore the lever to normal position thru its action on thefollower '80. Throughout this and the succeeding cycle, cam followers 84and 85 are stationary. After rotation thru one-third of a drive deviceis provided.

a revolution, the further movement of the mechanism is blocked untilagain released by the insertion of a'proper coin as hereinafterexplained. During the-succeeding one-third of a revolution, followers 80and '82 also remain stationary, and cams 88 and 89 act on the followers86 and 87 associated with the lever 78 to actuate this lever to deliveran article and subsequently restore it to normal position. During thethird op eration, both levers 74 and 78 are held idle, lever '76 beingactuated and restored by the action of cams 81 and 83 on its followers84'a'nd 85.

Retrograde movement of shaft 64 is prevented by means of a pawl 90 whichis drawn by spring 91 into engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 92fixed to the shaft 64. At three positions spaced 120 apart, one tooth ofthe ratchet wheel 92 is omitted, as indicated at 93, to permit thereturnof the mechanism to normal position after a displacement thereofwhich is suiiicient. to operate the mechanism hereinbefore described toopen the coin tester and drop any articles .cont-ained'therein. Movementof the mechanism suflicient to cause pawl 90 to engage the tooth of theratchet wheel adjacent to the blank spaces 93 is blocked in the absenceof an accepted coin in the bottom of the passage 43 as will be presentlyexplained.

The machine is operated by a manipulative device associated with themain shaft 64. In order to prevent injury to the mechanism by theapplication of excessive pressure when the machine is looked, a frictionThe operating member comprises a finger piece 94 which extendstransversely of and projects from a disk 96 having a recess 97 in itsinwardly facing side. The disk 96 is r abbeted to receive the margin offlange 95 of an apertured escutcheon plate 98, secured to the case. Thedisk 96 is rotatably secured to the escutcheon by an apertured plate 99whichextends over the flange 95 and is suitably secured to the disk. Theaperture in plate 99 receives a cylinder 100 having an axial recess 101adapted to receive the end of shaft 64- Motion is transmitted fromcylinder 100 to shaft 64 by means of a cross pin 102 in the cylinder,which is engaged by the forked end of shaft 64. 7

A washer 103 encircles the cylinder 100 and is held between the plate 99of the finger piecedisk 96 and an end plate 104 secured the operatingcross pin 102 to'shaft 64. VHowever, if for any reason the resistance ofshaft 64 .to 1'0- tation is excessive, plate 99 will slip on washer 103'Thus,injury to the mechanism by the application of excessive force tothe finger piece when the machine is locked is obviated.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The coin must first be inserted in the machine, accepted by the cointester and advanced to the bottom of the chute 43 where it rests uponthe lever nose 44. If an attempt is made to operate the machine withouta coin in this position, the initial movement of the operating shaft 64will, by reason of the engagement of the shoulder 61 with lug 62, causethe lock release member 50 to move transversely. The rocking plate whichis pivoted to member 50 moves transversely with said member, rotationthereof being prevented by the engagement of the inclined nose of springconnecting member 58 with the stud 57. Such transverse movementcontinues until the edge of rocker 55' engages the fixed stud 60,-positively locking the mechanism against further movement The initialmovement permitted by the clearance between the rocker 55. and stud 60,however, is sufiicient to cause the cam 68 to lift the lever nose 67 andeffect the opening of the coin,

tester thru the engagement of nose 681 with the projection 69 on thehinged side of the coin tester.

When a coin is in the bottom of chute 43,

63 to rotate until the next succeeding lug 62 8 again engages theshoulder 61. During this movement, the lever 451 is rocked by theengagement of nose 67 with cam 68 withdrawing the nose 44 from the endof thecoin chute and permitting the coin which has operated the'machineto drop into the coin receptacle 110. Lock releasing member 50 will beretracted out ofengagement with the coin by a spring 59 as soon as thenose 66 has passed the stud 65. The accepted coin on dropping to thebottom of the chute 43 rocks the lever 4C6, projecting the nose 48 intothe top of chute 43 and retaining any coins thereafter tendered in thecoin tester to be returned on the initial movement of the operatingmechanism.

The rotation of shaft 64. thru one-third of a revolution in the mannerabove described will effect the operation of one of the eject-ors, theother two ejectors remaining stationary. Upon a second operation of themachine, another of the ejectors will be operated, and upon the thirdoperation the remaining ejector will be operated, the three ejectorsbeing actuated in rotation on successive opera-tions of the machine andonly one ejector being moved at any one operation. When the stock ofarticles in any one of the bins 26 has become exhausted, the arm 37associated with such bin will be projected thru the slot 39 and willblock the return to normal position of the pendant 72, thus retainingthe coin tester open and preventing the acceptance of any coin until themachine is recharged.

When the machine is to be recharged and the collection of coins removed,the proper key is inserted in turned to withdraw lug 222 from under theend of lock plate 228. The bottom of the casing can then be drawnoutwardly, withdrawing the cross pin 102 from the slotted end of shaft6 1. The casing can then be lifted to remove studs 19 from their slots18 in arms 17 and the casing completely removed, rendering the bins 26and the coin box accessible. If repairs to the mechanism are necessary,by means of plate 221 the spindle 22 may be rotated to bring thelaterally ex tending lug 21 into alignment with the slot in stirrup 20,permitting the lower end of the mechanism frame to be moved forward,with drawing lug 21 thru its slot. The mechanism frame can then beremoved from the back by lifting it until the studs 24A pass out of theslots in plate 243.

The invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific deviceswhich have been illustrated and described but is to be construed asextending to all equivalent mechanisms falling within a broad interpretation of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vending machine comprising a plu rality of receptacles adapted toreceive stacks of similar articles and delivery mechanism associatedtherewith adapted to remove articles from said stacks in rotation, saidde livery mechanism comprising a common operating member, ejectordevices, and trains of inelastic mechanical elements connecting saidcommon member with said ejector devices whereby said devices arepositively actuated the lock 23, and bolt 22 is j to remove anarticleand positively-restored to normal position. I V

2,. In a delivery mechanism for vending machines, an ejector lever, amain operating shaft, an operating finger piece in alignment with andeifective to rotatesaid shaft, complemental cams on said operating shaftand cam followers associated with said ejectorlever adapted to engagesaid cams. V

3. in a delivery mechanism for vending machines, an operating shaft, apair of complemental cams fixed to said operating shaft a plurality .ofejector levers and cam followers associated with said ejector levers andengaging said pair of .complemental cams, the ar-. ran gement of saidfollowers being such that each ejector lever is actuated and restored tonormal position while theremaining ejector levers are idle.

4. In a delivery mechanism for vending machines, a main operating shafthaving mountedthereon a locking disk, a coin mechanism controlling cam,a pair of comple mental cams, and ratchet device for pre ventingretrograde movement of said-shaft, in combination with devices:co-operating with said disk, said cams and 5. In a. delivery mechanismfor vending machines, an operating shaft having mounted thereon aplurality of cams and plurality of ejector devices controlled by said.cams,'the number of ejector de-v vices thus controlled being greaterthan the number of pairs of the controlling cams.

6. In a coin controlledidevice, a sliding and rocking lock controllingmember having a lock engaging element pivoted thereon,-.a lock engagedby said element and tending when actuated to rock said element about itspivot, means whereby the lock controlling device is moved bodily on suchengagement and means whereby preventing the bodily movement of said lock'controllingmember effects the release of the lock.

7 In a coin controlled device, the combination of a locking device, acontacting locking device, a lock controlling member on said contactinglocking device is movably mounted, said member being adapted to be movedbodily in the absence of a coin to lock the mechanism after a shortinitial movement thereof, and means operative on said controlling memberindependently of said contacting locking device to rotate said member tolock releasing position when its bodily movement is blocked by thepresence of a coin.

8. A coincontrolled device comprising a coin tester, a chute adapted toreceive coins accepted by said tester, means for retaining coins in saidchute in mechanism controlling position, means whereby the presence of acoin in said position prevents the passage of a second coin from saidtester into said chute, and means associated with said coin retainsaidratchet device. I

which ing means for opening the coin tester to discharge any coin thusretainedtherein.

9. In a vending machine, receptacles for a plurality of stacks ofarticles to be vended, followers for said articles, coin controlled'means for delivering articles from said receptacles in rotation onsuccessive operations of the machine, and means mounted on saidfollowers for effecting the return of all coins in- 10 serted in themachine after the supply of articles in any one of said receptacles hasbecome exhausted.

10. In a vending machine, a coin testing i device adapted to be openedto discharge articles lodged therein, a coin chute adapted to receivecoins accepted by said tester and retain them in mechanism controllingposition, an article receptacle means controlled by V .r the exhaustionof the supply of articles in said receptacle comprising a pendant, anoperat ing mechanism, and a unitary member controlled by said operatingmechanism and. adapted to oscillate said pendant, open said coin'tester,and eflect the discharge of the coin in the coin chute. v

11. In a delivery mechanism for vending machines, an operating shafthaving mounted thereon a pair of complemental cams, and a plurality ofejector devices adapted to be actuated one at a time by said pair ofcams.

12. A vending machine comprising a back plate, a unitary mechanismsupporting frame adapted to be secured to said back plate, vendingmechanism mounted in said frame comprising an operating shaft, a casing,casing locating and supporting devices mounted on said back plate, afinger piece mounted on said casing, and connecting means associatedwith said finger piece adapted to establish an op- V erative connectionwith said operating shaft when said casing is placed in said casingsupporting device. I

HAROLD B. WOODS.

